Grain separator



J 4, 1940. H. L. JOHNSON 2,203,152

GRAIN SEPARATOR Filed June 20, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Anzzr L Joli/V60 A TTORNE Y.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 H L JOHNSON GRAIN SEPARATOR Flled June 20, 1938 June 4, 1940.

June 4, 1940. H. L. JOHNSON GRAIN SEPARATOR Filed June 20, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR 1 /922) 1. JOHNJO/V Patented June 4, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFECE 5 Claims.

This invention concerns itself with the art of grain separation, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a comparatively simple and compact machine by means of which a conglomerate mass of grain or seed such as barley and the like, may be rapidly and continuously separated into its component parts.

The invention further has as its object the provision of a machine by which the so called "width separation of small grains and seeds may be carried out. In other words, the width of the individual grains is the determining factor in the process of separation, and the grains of greater width than the predetermined, desirable dimension, are separated out and carried from the machine in a separate stream. The machine accordingly embodies perforated or apertured screens over which the mass or stream of grain is carried, and the apertures in the screens are dimensioned to properly separate the grains according to their width. Hitherto, all machines with which I am familiar, employing screens for the separating means, have required that the screens have a vibratory action in order to agitate the grain as it traveled thereover, but this anrangement entails numerous difficulties in construction, is inefficient in its separating action, and has made it difficult to replace the screens where necesary to accommodate the machine to use with different kinds of grain. It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide a machine employing fixed or immovable screens as the separating means, thus greatly facilitating the mounting of the screens, making it convenient to remove and replace screens as required, and simplifying the entire assembly. To then provide for agitation of the grain sufficient to prevent the screens from possibly becoming clogged with the larger grains, I provide beneath each screen an agitator member arranged to reciprocate or vibrate continuously as required, but which is entirely separate from the screen.

Another object is to provide a machine of this character including novel and eflicient operating mechanism for the agitators, with all operating parts exteriorly arranged for convenient inspection or servicing, and which machine further is arranged to include a relatively great number of separate screens in a compact assembly to thereby facilitate and enhance the separating action and effect.

Still a further object is to provide a machine in which the screen and agitators may be ena lower corner portion, constituting the delivery 1 or discharge part of the machine, being broken away from the main view but shown in a detached detail.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine, with a medial portion shown in vertical section to disclose interior construction, and with one closure member or door removed from the casing or housing.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side or end view of an agitator member embodying slats or bars of a resilient material for action against the separating screens.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged vertical section along the line 44 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section, showing the delivery or discharge screws and spouts, taken along the irregular line 5-5, in Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical cross section through the machine, a substantial medial portion being broken away, and showing the course of the grain as it travels through the machine.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary plan View of a corner portion of one of the separating screens.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional detail view along the line 88 in Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a similar view, taken at the opposite margin of the screen, and also illustrating the action of the agitator against the grain as it travels over the screen.

Referring now more particularly and by reference numerals to the drawings, I!) designates an outer case or housing including the front and rear or side walls II and i2 and end Walls !3 and i4 defining a vertically elongated chamber, as shown.

The grain separating action is provided by a series of vertically spaced screens A extended within the housing from end to end thereof and these screens are alternately and oppositely inclined, one beneath the other, with each terminating at upper and lower edges considerably short of the front and rear walls H and I2. The screens are further assembled in the housing in staggered arrangement, with respect to the vertical, so that the lowermost edge of each screen stands above the upper edge of the screen next below and the arrangement is, therefore, such that the grain may descend over the screens and, as it falls over the lower edge of each screen, it will drop onto the upper edge of the next screen, to thereby travel over all screens.

The unseparated mass of grain is fed to the machine through a receiving hopper I3 located at the upper end of the housing l8, and which feeds the grain in turn to a feeding trough or chamber 14 extending from end to end of the housing above the upper screen A. This trough. 54 includes a movable side wall 55 pivotally supported at l6 and having an extended counterweight I! which normally serves to press the edge ill of the wall against the adjacent edge Hi of the fixed portion of the trough. A feed screw it is journaled lengthwise through the trough and acts to distribute the grain evenly from the hopper l3 along the length of the trough, and, as the grain builds up in the trough under action of the feed screw, it exerts a suliicient lateral pressure against the side wall 25 to overcome the effect of the counter-weight I! and swing the edge It, outwardly, to allow the grain to escape in an even curtain or stream from the trough. The feed may be readily con trolled by adjustment of the counter-weight ll, along its supporting arm, as will be readily apparent. This weight controlled feed mechanism is quite similar to that disclosed in Patent No. 1,966,443, issued jointly to Carl C. Gray and myself on July 17th, 1934, for a Grain scalping and aspirating machine. An inwardly and downwardly turned portion 2| of the front wall ii serves as a guard to prevent escape of grain over the upper edge of the uppermost screen A, and further insures that the grain will descend onto the screen in an even sheet or stream. The feed may be entirely shut oii by a slidable gate valve 22 in the hopper l3.

The feed screw is rotated on its axle or shaft 23 by means of an electric motor 24 supported on a bracket 25 on the housing It and connected by belts 25 to a pulley 2'! on the shaft. Power is also taken from. the shaft 23 for operation of other parts of the machine, as will be presently pointed out, but it is understood that any desired and suitable arrangement may be made for driving the various parts, other than that here described.

The various screens A are each identical in construction. The screens, per se, take the form of flat sheets of metal which are profusely perforated with elongated, staggered openings 28 of such length that the grains or seeds to be separated may readily fall therethrough. As stated, the width of the grains or seeds is the determining factor in the separating process, and the openings 28 are, accordingly, of a predetermined width such that only grains of a desired size may pass through. Inasmuch as a change in the kind of grain or seed to be separated will usually make it necessary to change the screens for others having openings of a more suitable size, it is important that the screens. be readily interchangeable. To this end I provide for each screen a rectangular frame 29, conveniently and inexpensively fabricated out of angle iron stock, and which carries U-shaped loops or saddles 30 at its intended lower end. These loops 3B of the screen assemblies are placed outside or over cross rods 3! which are secured between the ends of the housing ill at suitable points, and the screens may thus be readily removed by simply pulling them away from the cross rods. The weight of the screens will normally retain them in place on the cross rods, but in addition the upper ends are removably secured by bolts 32 to L-shaped brackets 33 riveted, or otherwise fastened, to the ends of the housing at suitable points. These bolts 33% are readily removable tor replacement of the screens and normally serve to retain the screens rigidly in position in the housing.

The upper and lower margins of the screens are flanged or formed with downwardly turned lips 3 and the lower lips are rigidly clamped between angle irons 3539 which form the lower side of the screen frames 29 and which are drawn tightly together by bolts 3"! (Fig. 9) to retain the screen lip therebetween. The upper lips 34 are similarly placed between angle irons 33-39 (Fig. 8) defining the upper margin of the screen frames, and are clamped by bolts 46, but these bolts are extended upwardly through plates M.

welded. or otherwise secured, at the corners of the frame, and additional nuts 42 are provided so that these bolts may be pulled tight to exert a stretching action between the clamped edges of the screen. This action permits the screen to be stretched taut at all times, and insures that it will maintain a perfectly flat condition. It will be noted, also, that this assembly leaves the lower or discharge edges of t 0 screen perfectly smooth and without obstruction to the flow of grain thereover.

The machine, as herein shown, employs a total of eight screens, and for convenience in the removal of this number of screens the front and rear walls I! and i2 of the housing are provided with a plurality of removable doors or closures 53, each of which includes a bifurcated lower edge t to fit over the turned lower margin A5 of its opening 46 in the housing, and a turned upper edge t? to fit tightly against the upper edge 48 of its opening. Latches or buttons 49 normally retain these doors in place as clearly shown. The doors are spaced apart vertically by intervening panels 58 of the front and side walls which serve to retain the rigidity of the structure.

Mounted below each screen A is a deflector or conveyor plate B constituting an important element of the separating assembly. Each plate is or rectangular fiat form, is extended from end to end of, and within, the housing H), and has end flanges 5| turned upwardly and pivotally connected at 52 at the upper ends to the inner sides of the housing ends l3 and M. The plates then hang from these pivot points 52 downwardly at an angle, and at their free lower edges 53 may contact the upper edges of the screens A, second below, in such. manner that each plate slopes oppositely with respect to the screen immediately above and acts to carry grain which falls through the screen outwardly to either front or rear clear of the screens and other parts below. For this reason then, the free or lower edges of the plates overhang the screens some distance as clearly shown, and these edges are turned under, for stiiiening purposes, in such manner that the grain may fall clear without obstruction of any kind. Each plate B also carries a depended guard flange 54 adjacent its lower edge which acts to guide the grain discharging from one screen into proper engagement with the next screen, clearly shown in Fig. 6.

The lower portion of the housing ill constitutes the discharge end of the machine, and the front and rear walls II and 12 are turned inwardly at their lower ends to form the sloping walls 55 of a discharge trough 56 which extends lengthwise of the machine and terminates at the delivery end in a downwardly opening spout 51. A spiral delivery screw 58 is journaled by its shaft 59 in the trough 56. Another delivery trough 60 extends lengthwise in the housing above the screw 58 and opens at its upper side at the lower or discharge edge of the lowermost screen A. The lowermost deflector plate B extends over the upper side of the trough 50 and normally rests at 6| thereon. The trough 60 also terminates at the delivery end in a downwardly opening spout 62 which is entirely separate from the aforesaid spout 51. A deliveryscrew 63 is journaled by its shaft 64 in the trough 60, and at one end these shafts 59 and G4 are connected by a sprocket chain 65 and sprockets 66. One shaft further carries a pulley 61 over which is trained a belt 68 running upwardly to a pulley 89 secured on the feed screw shaft 23. The various screws 25, 58, and 63 are thus all rotated simultaneously by the motor 24, as will be clearly evident.

Also mounted under each screen A is an agitator or shaker element C forming an important part of the separating assembly, and which acts against the screen in such manner as to insure that the openings 28 therein will not become clogged with grain which may happen to be of such size as to just enter and become wedged or lodged in the said openings. Each agitator comprises a plurality of slats or bars 10 extended in spaced relation endwise substantially across the entire length of the screen A. These slats are made of wood, or. other suitable material, and are rigidly mounted at their ends to cross bars or hangers 1| which include the doWnwardly turned flanges 12 having downwardly opening notches 13 adapted to seat over carrier shafts or bars 14 extendinglengthwise loosely through the housing below the screens and along substantially the medial line of said screens. Arcuate or bow springs are secured to the cross bars 1| and bear downwardly against the carrier shafts 14 to yieldably urge the slats 10 upward against the undersides of the screens, and to maintain sliding contact between the slats and screens.

At their outer ends the shafts M extend through slide blocks 1'6 exteriorly of the housing 10, and these blocks are slidably fitted between guide members 11 affixed to the housing ends l3 and I4 and extended in planes parallel with the screens A. The ends of the shafts 14 further carry rigidly aifixed and radially extended arms 18, the outer ends of which are pivotally connected at 19 to connecting links 80 which are turned back toward the vertical center line of the housing and are pivotally connected at 81 to operating bars 82. These bars 82 are vertically extended, and slidably mounted, through bearings 83 secured to the ends 13 and M of the housing 10, and adjacent their upper ends are pivotally connected at 84 to pitmans 85, which are in turn pivotally and eccentrically connected at 36 to sprocket gears 81 carried at the ends of a shaft 88 journaled through the upper end portion of the housing. This shaft 88 is driven from the shaft 23 through a sprocket chain 89 trained over the sprocket 81 and a sprocket 9'7] on saidshaft 23.

The operation. of the machine may be briefly described as follows: The unseparated or con glomerate mass of grain is fed, by any suitable means or mechanism, into the hopper 13 where it falls into the feed trough l4, and under action of the screw is distributed evenly along the length of the trough. The grain then descends from the trough in a continuous even curtain or stream and drops into the uppermost screen A near its upper edge. As the grain mass then moves downwardly along the inclined screen, such grains as are of a certain size will (determined by the dimensions of the openings 28) drop through the openings and onto the deflector plate B below. This separated grain, which is of the desired size, will then move downwardly over the deflector plate B and will drop from the lower edge thereof downwardly through thehousing and clear of the other screens, to finally come to rest in the trough 56. Meanwhile the grain rejected by the first screen, or made up of particles too wide to drop through the openings therein, drops from the lower edge of the screen down upon the upper portion of the next screen below, where it again moves downwardly but in an opposite direction over that screen and is subjected to a further separating action. It is manifestly impossible for all of the grain to come in proper contact with the first screen as the grain moves in a mass thereover, and hence the plurality of screens are needed in order that an adequate effective length or area of screen ma* terial will he provided to subject all of the grain to the separating process. Therefore, all grain rejected by each screen is dropped upon another screen below until finally, after reaching the lowermost screen, the coarse grain is dropped into the trough 50. All grain passing through the screens is diverted by the plates B out to one side and dropped straight to the bottom of the housing, Where the sloping Walls 55 direct it into the trough 56. The screws 5! and 93 then carry the two grades of grain outwardly to the discharge spouts 51 and 52 where they are discharged in the separated condition into containers of any suitable kind.

In connection with the adequate exposure of the grain to the screening action, it will be evident that the relatively great number of the screens A permits the grain to travel faster, and in greater quantity, through the machine than would otherwise be possible with fewer screens, and as a result the operation of the machine may be very rapid. Also, due to the peculiar and novel arrangement of the screens, there results a complete reversal in the grain flow between each of the screens, causing the grain to in effect be turned and thoroughly mixed and agitated as it drops from one screen to the next. The guards 2| and 54 prevent the grain from escaping from the screens as it discharges from one to another, and, an additional guard 9! is hung, from the housing adjacent the second screen for this same purpose.

In the course of the travel of the grain over the screens there will be a tendency for grains or particles of certain sizes to become lodged in the openings 28 as shown in Fig. 9. This effect would in time cause objectionable clogging of the screens, but this is obviated by action of the agitators C. As stated, the bars 82 are reciprocated vertically in the bearings 83 by the pitmans 85, and. the resulting angular pushing and pulling action of the links 80 causes the blocks 15 and carrier rods 14 tobe vibrated or reciprocated in planes parallel with the screens A. This action is transmitted to the agitators C causing the slats 10 to move back and forth below the screens,

and will cause a continuous agitation of the grain traveling over the screens.

The slats may be made of rubber, leather, or similar flexible or yieldable material as designated at 10a in Fig. 3, to facilitate their action. In this case the slats will be held in place by elongated channel-like members 92 secured at 513 to the cross members H, as shown.

Any numb-er of the screens A may, of course, be used, and they may be readily interchanged for others of different grade, or having openings of different sizes, in order to accommodate the machine for use in the separation of grains or seeds of all kinds.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A grain separating machine comprising a housing, a series 01": superimposed and alternately and oppositely inclined screens rigidly mounted in the housing, agitator members movably supported in the housing for reciprocating movement in the direction of inclination of the screens and in contact with undersides thereof, a vertically reciprocating operating bar on the housing, and operating connections between the bar and all of the agitators for reclprocating the said agitators beneath the screen.

2. A grain separating machine comprising a housing, a series of superimposed and alternately and oppositely inclined screens rigidly mounted in the housing, agitator members movably supported in the housing for reciprocating movement, vertically movable operating bars supported on the housing adjacent each end of the screens, means for reciprocating the said bars, and links connecting the cars to each end of each agitator for transmitting reciprocating movement to the said agitators.

3. A grain separating machine comprising a housing, a plurality of screens rigidly supported in the housing in alternately oppositely inclined and superimposed positions, agitator members mounted beneath each screen and movably supported for reciprocating action toward upper and lower sides of said screens, operating bars slidably mounted on the housing adjacent opposite ends of the screens, means for vertically reciproeating the said bars, guide means for the agitators at each side of the bars, and links connected to the bars and agitators for imparting reciprocating movement to the agitators in response to movement of the bars.

4. A grain separating machine comprising a. housing, a plurality of screens rigidly supported in the housing in alternately oppositely inclined and vertically spaced positions, agitator members mounted below the screens, an operating bar slidably supported for movement in vertical planes at opposite ends of the housing, operating members extended from opposite ends of the agitators and disposed alternately at opposite sides ofthe operating bars, guide means on the housing slidably engaging and supporting the said operating members for movement in planes parallel with the direction in which the respective screens are inclined, link mechanism connected angularly between the operating bars and the operating members, and means for reciprocating the operating bars for transmitting movement to the agitators.

5. A grain separating machine comprising a housing, a plurality of screens rigidly supported in the housing in alternately oppositely inclined and vertically spaced positions, agitator members mounted below the screens, an operating bar slidably supported for planes at opposite ends of the housing, operating shafts extended at opposite ends from the movement in vertical 

